Combined cleansing applicator and scraper blade



G. MATTHAY Feb. 2, 1960 COMBINED CLEANSING APPLICATOR AND SCRAPER BLADE Filed Jan. 25, 1958 INVENTOR.

nrrHnr United States Patent COMBINED CLEANSING APPLICATOR AND SCRAPER BLADE George Matthay, Chicago, 111.

Application January 23, 1958, Serial No. 710,788

3 Claims. (Cl. 15-124) This invention relates to cleaning apparatus and more particularly to a combination sponge and scraper unit.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a manually operated cleaning device having self contained soap and scraping means for performing substantially all necessary cleaning functions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device of the above type having self contained control means for selectively actuating the scraper and controlling the flow of soap to the sponge head.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a combination cleaner and scraper bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of a cleaning device made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view of certain parts of the device shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a scraper element forming a part of the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a cleaning and scraping device made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a tubular handle 12 having a synthetic sponge 14 secured at one end. A removable closure element 23 is carried upon the opposite end of the tubular handle 12 so as to define a compartment 22 therewithin for receiving a quantity of soap powder or flakes 21. A normally closed flap valve 16 normally blocks the flow of soap from the compartment 22 toward the sponge 14. However, a tension coil spring 19 secured at one end to the handle 12 and at the opposite end to the stem 18 of the flap valve permits the flap valve to be manually rotated from the closed position 16 to the open position 16a in response to rotation of the stem 18 to the open position 18a, in order to allow a selected quantity of soap to flow into association with the sponge. Said coil spring 19 normally holds said valve 16 in closed position, keeping the soap 21 Within the compartment 22.

With specific reference now to Figures 2 and 5 of the drawing, a scraper blade 25 is shown to be slidably supported within a preformed slot 30 in the sponge 14. This blade 25 is connected to a polygonal guide 26 that is slidably supported within the sponge end of the handle 12 for reciprocating longitudinal movement. The interior surface of the bore 28 of the handle and the side surfaces of the polygonal bearing define spaces 35 that permit the soap to flow past the bearing and into actual contact with the interior surface of the sponge 114. An upwardly and rearwardly extending handle 31 secured to the polygonal guide bearing 26 extends rearwardly with its end portion projecting through a longitudinal slot 3?. in the handle 12, whereby movement of the handle 31 in either direction relative to the slot 32 is operative to effect similar movement of the scraper blade 25.

In actual use, a selected amount of soap 21 is supplied ;'to the sponge 14 by rotating the flap valve 16 to the open position 16a, whereupon the soap will flow through the spaces 35 between the bearing guide member 26 and the inside surface of the tubular handle 12 and into the slot defining portions of the sponge 14. If it is desired to also scrape the particular article being cleaned, the handle 31 may be pushed in a forward direction to extend the blade outwardly through the slot in the front end of the sponge 14, whereupon it becomes available for use. The scraper is as easily withdrawn from the extended position by retracting the handle 31 in the manner described.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A cleaning device of the type described comprising,

7 in combination, a hollow handle, a synthetic rectangular shaped sponge secured to one end of said handle, a closure cap removably secured at the opposite end of said hollow handle defining a compartment within said handle for enclosing a quantity of soap flakes and powder and providing means for the filling of said compartment, a normally closed pivoted disc-shaped valve mounted intermediate the ends of said handle forming one end of said compartmeut and preventing the flow of soap powder from said compartment toward said sponge, a yieldable spring normally maintaining said disc-shaped valve in flow blocking relationship with the interior of said handle, said sponge provided with a preformed longitudinal slot opening to the working face of the sponge and arranged parallel with the sides thereof and in a plane extending longitudinally through said handle, a scraper blade of substantially rectangular configuration movably supported within said preformed slot in said sponge, said scraper having integrally secured therewith a rearwardly extending handle portion, said handle portion extending into said hollow handle between the sponge end thereof and said valve arranged therein, said scraper blade within said sponge mounted for reciprocating movement between a withdrawn position within the confines of said sponge and an extended position outwardly thereof, and said handle portion of said scraper blade for selectively moving said scraper blade between said withdrawn and extended position.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said scraper blade handle includes a polygonal bearing slidably supported with said hollow handle, the interior surface of said hollow handle and the sides of said polygonal bearing defining passages for accommodating the flow of soap powder from said compartment to said sponge.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said hollow handle has a longitudinally extending slot arranged in the exterior surface thereof, said slot formed between said sponge and said valve embodied within said hollow shaft, and the rear end portion of said scraper handle having a transverse portion with one end thereof extending outwardly through said slot for selectively moving said scraper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,610,657 Burgee Dec. 14, 1926 1,982,654 Friedman Dec. 4, 1934 2,710,420 Granat et a1. June 14, 1955 2,815,522 Hexter Dec. 10, 1957 

